Neanderthal-Modern Human Interactions in the Southern Caucasus. Daniel S. Adler University of Connecticut

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1 Neanderthal-Modern Human Interactions in the Southern Caucasus Daniel S. Adler University of Connecticut

2 Major Research Questions What was the palaeoenvironmental & temporal context of the Middle Upper Palaeolithic transition? Were Neanderthals & Modern Humans sympatric or allopatric? If sympatric, what niches & resources were exploited & what kinds of interactions occurred? If allopatric, what were the main differences in niche & resource exploitation? What rifts or continuities in material culture & behavior can be identified between the LMP & EUP? What is the relevance? Sareki Klde

3 Specific Hypotheses HUNTING ABILITIES DISTINGUISH MODERN HUMANS FROM NEANDERTHALS TESTS: species representation, mortality, sex ratios, life history characteristics ARTIFACT DIVERSITY & SOPHISTICATION DISTINGUISH MODERN HUMANS FROM NEANDERTHALS TESTS: core reduction, blank production, tool manufacture, use, recycling, & discard SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS & INTERACTIONS DISTINGUISH MODERN HUMANS FROM NEANDERTHALS TESTS: mobility, land-use, & raw material exploitation Dmanisi

4 Archaeological Excavation Sources of Data Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction: D. Lordkipanidze (palynology), S. Weiner (mineralogy), C. Mallol & P. Goldberg (micromorphology), E. Allue (palaeobotany), & J. Agusti (microfauna) Chronometric Dating: T. Jull & E. Boaretto (AMS), J. Rink (ESR), & N. Mercier & H. Valladas (TL) Zooarchaeology & Taphonomy: G. Bar-Oz Lithic Analysis Mobility & Land-use Studies Human Behavioral Ecology Djruchula Cave

5 Geography of the Late Mousterian After Bar-Yosef and Pilbeam Chatelperronian 40/36 38/33 Charentian Uluzzian Eastern Micoquian Szeletian Levalloiso- Mousterian Eastern Micoquian/ para-micoquian Taurus-Zagros 30/28? Late Aterian 40 Levalloiso- Mousterian 48/47 Late Levantine Mousterian Lower Nile Valley Complex 50/45?

6 ---->1000m---- Black Sea <100m m---- Elbrus 5642m Kazbegi 5033m m---- Caspian Sea * Tbilisi m---- Aragac 4090m * Yerevan Sevan m---- * Baku Van Ararat 5165m Urmia TERRA Satellite 2001

7 cold, dry airflow TEMPERATE ZONE warm humid airflow SUBTROPICAL ZONE SURAMI RIDGE 2000 m arid airflow CONTINENTAL ZONE Diversity in elevation & numerous river valleys draining Caucasus form a patchwork of rich & diverse ecological niches Environments: open broad-leaved & coniferous woodlands interspersed with grasslands Little evidence for dramatic environmental shifts during climatic oscillations of OIS 3

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12 Chronology & Stratigraphy AMS=37; TL=21; ESR=5; Total=63 Layer 9: ± TL Layer 10: ± TL North 4b 4c 4c 4d BP Weighted Mean Method ± 89 2 AMS ± AMS ± AMS ± AMS ± AMS ± AMS BOUNDARY ± AMS ± TL ± AMS ± TL ± AMS ± TL ± 2532 ESR (EU) ± 2757 ESR (LU)

13 GISP2 δ 18 O with Greenland Interstadials (G.I.) & Heinrich Events (H) Middle Palaeolithic Upper Palaeolithic 9 7&6 4d 4b-a c WARM G.I δ 18 O ( 0 /00) H6 H5a H5 H4 Stable warm Trans Early cold LGM cold OIS 3 OIS 2 OIS Cal ka BP H3 H2 H1 H0 COLD

14 Capra caucasica Layers 2 4 Layer 5 Layer 6 Layer 7 Total NISP MNI MNE NISP:MNE %Total NISP Bison priscus Layers 2 4 Layer 5 Layer 6 Layer 7 Total NISP MNI MNE NISP:MNE %Total NISP Capra caucasica (Total: NISP = 3234, MNI = 53) Bison priscus Dr. K. Mikhailov

15 Mortality vs. Lifespan for LMP Caucasian Tur % Mortality Young Prime n = 18 n = Based on wear of lower deciduous 4th premolar & lower 3rd molar (Stiner 1994) Old n = 1 0 Layers 6 7 (N=57) Young: Prime Age: Old: % Lifespan (12 years) 31.6% total sample 66.7% total sample 1.7% total sample

16 Survivorship and Mortality Modified triangular plot (after Steele & Weaver 2002) : LMP Ortvale Klde : MP Italy : UP Italy : MP Kebara gazelle : MP Kebara fallow deer : MP Kebara red deer : MP Gabasa 1 Old A axis 100% Prime-age Adults ambush hunting Juvenile B 100% axis C axis Prime 100% Data after: Adler et al. (2005, 2006), Blasco Sancho (1995), Speth & Tchernov (1998), Stiner (1994, 2002)

17 1 0.8 y = x R 2 = , P=0.66 %MNI OBS./EXP y = x R 2 = , P= FUI Layer 6 % Survivorship Layer 7 % Survivorship mm /224 91/ / /28 9/48 3/24 11/84 30/266 26/228 7/ Head Trunk Forelimb Hindlimb Toes Layer 6 (NISP=1408, MNE=458) Layer 7 (NISP=1098, MNE=384) K. Mikhailov NO Correlation Full Representation NO selective transport by hominins

18 Bd t=5.34, P< Weinstock 2000 Breadth (BD) vs length of 2 nd phalange (GLpe) Bd Breadth (BD) vs length of astragalus (GL1) HDH GLpe Female (n=4), Male (n=9), UP (n=2), MP (n=11) GL1 Female (n=4), Male (n=11), UP (n=3), MP (n=13) BT Female (n=5), Male (n=11), MP (n=4) t=4.42, P<0.001 t=2.79, P<0.01 Height distal humerus (HDH) vs breadth trochlea (BT) Mean size of LMP sample > modern sample Two adult size groups = sexual dimorphism DFA suggests ratio: ~66% females

19 NO CULLING BY SEX %Male %Female SUMMER Alpine Meadow WINTER Forest LMP Ortvale Klde EUP 33 67

20 masl Caucasian Tur Migration WINTER 800m * Ortvale Klde CURRENT MIGRATORY RANGE AGGREGATION WINTER (Oct May) Current sub-alpine zone CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS Births in May June SUMMER 4200m DISPERSAL SUMMER (May Oct) Estrus/breeding late Nov early Jan Maternal groups of 12 Solitary males

21 masl Caucasian Tur Migration WINTER 800m * Ortvale Klde OIS 3 MIGRATORY RANGE OIS 3 sub-alpine zone AGGREGATION WINTER (Oct May) 3200m CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS Births in May June SUMMER DISPERSAL SUMMER (May Oct) Estrus/breeding late Nov early Jan Maternal groups of 12 Solitary males

22 Cenomanian-Turonian Flint Kazkhi Region, Imeretia Local: 25 km N= 22,051 LMP: Full Reduction 99.6 % total (<5000/m 3 ) Chikiani Obsidian, Lake Paravani, Djavakheti Region Non-local: 100 km LMP: Curated Tools 0.4% total (<15/m 3 ) Local/m 3 :Non-local/m 3 = 236:1

23 100 % FREQUENCY crossed bidirectional subcentripetal true centripetal unidirectional DORSAL SCAR PATTERNS Flake n=1597 Core n=234 Χ 2 = , df= 4, p Core Reduction Récurrent unidirectional Levallois Mean 18.8 Χ 2 = , df= 13, p Mean n 30 MLS n=237 Core n= cm >65 LENGTH INTERVALS (mm)

24 Core Management Techniques Débordants Outrepassé Flakes 0 5cm

25 Blank Production: 100 Χ 2 =36.55, df=6, p % FREQUENCY Unidirectional elongated blanks >70 LENGTH INTERVALS (mm) Faceted n=416 Plain n= cm

26 Tool Manufacture, Use, & Resharpening 0 5cm Statistical analyses indicate that typological forms are due to resharpening and recycling rather than intentional production.

27 RADIATING MOBILITY WINTER (Oct May) lower elevations Ortvale Klde BBC * 1. Neanderthal aggregation CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS ambush & butchery stations OK raw material acquisition floral resources? 2. Meat & fat procurement 3. <Diet Breadth: <resource availability not specialization 4. Coordinated group hunts 5. Intimate knowledge of landscape & animal behavior 6. Provisioning of places & individuals 7. Full reduction sequences & intensive, repeated occupations

28 CIRCULATING MOBILITY SUMMER (May Oct) multiple elevations * ** * BBC * CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS Neanderthal dispersal 2. Refocus foraging on plant resources? 3. >Diet Breadth: >resource availability * 4. Lower prey encounter rates at lower elevations * 5. High-quality lithic raw material at lower elevations only 6. Provisioning of mobile individuals & small groups Numerous short-term, ephemeral camps 7. Abbreviated reduction sequences & ephemeral sites * * * * *

29 The Late Mousterian of the Caucasus MEZMAISKAYA CAVE LMP ~36 ka, EUP ~32 Ka based on 3 AMS dates Non-Levallois Eastern European Micoquian Largely identical subsistence patterns (Capra & Bison) but regionally distinct lithic traditions Capra caucasica ORTVALE KLDE LMP 36.5 ka, EUP 34.5 Ka based on 63 AMS, TL, & ESR dates Levallois Scraper Industry Bison priscus

30 Regional Neanderthal Traditions Kabazi I & V Starosele Western Crimea Northern Caucasus? Mezmaiskaya Matuzka Barakaevskaya Il skaya I & II Monasheskaya Black Sea?? Mediterranean Sea? Taurus-Zagros Mousterian Late Levantine Mousterian Southern Caucasus? Euphrates Tigris Ortvale Klde Djruchula Cave Bronze Cave Sakazhia Cave Karaïn Kunji Warwasi Shanidar Bisitun Amud Kebara Dederiyeh? Quneitra?

31 The Middle Upper Palaeolithic Boundary ± 260 AMS ± 160 AMS ± 249 AMS ± 447 AMS 4b 4c 4c 4d 5 4d ± 517 AMS 5

32 Cenomanian-Turonian Flint Kazkhi Region, Imeretia Local: 25 km N= 11,905 EUP: Full Reduction 93.3% total (<5200/m 3 ) Chikiani Obsidian, Lake Paravani, Djavakheti Region Non-local: 100 km EUP: Full Reduction 6.7% total (<370/m 3 ) Local/m 3 :Non-local/m 3 = 14:1

33 non-aurignacian bone and backed blade & bladelet industries

34 Symbolic/Notational Behavior?

35 HUNTING ABILITIES DISTINGUISH MODERN HUMANS FROM NEANDERTHALS TESTS: species representation, mortality, sex ratios, life history characteristics RESULTS: 1. Hunting abilities IDENTICAL 2. Change in hunting MP UP transition 3. Hunting prowess proxy modernity BBC 4. Hunting behavior = resource availability & landscape knowledge

36 ARTIFACT DIVERSITY & SOPHISTICATION DISTINGUISH MODERN HUMANS FROM NEANDERTHALS TESTS: core reduction, blank & tool production, use, recycling, & discard behaviors Neanderthal Museum RESULTS: 1. LMP EUP techno-typological traditions DISTINCT 2. Sophisticated Technology Sophisticated Adaptation 3. Technological Sophistication proxy modernity 4. Techno-typological traditions = cultural preference

37 BBC SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS & INTERACTIONS DISTINGUISH MODERN HUMANS FROM NEANDERTHALS TESTS: raw material exploitation, mobility, land use RESULTS: 1. LMP: <0.5% non-local raw materials (small, exhausted) - Small, local territories = less extensive mobility - Smaller social networks (100s km 2 ) 2. EUP: >6% non-local raw materials (full reduction, >utility) - Large, regional territories = more extensive mobility - Larger social networks (1000s km 2 )

38 The Transition in the Caucasus MEZMAISKAYA CAVE LMP ~36 ka; EUP ~32 ka Late Neanderthal Refugia BBC ORTVALE KLDE LMP 36.5 ka; EUP 34.5 ka??? BREACH OF TRADITIONAL BIOGEOGRAPHIC BARRIER

39 Geography of the Late Middle Palaeolithic 40 Eastern Micoquian Szeletian Eastern Micoquian/ para-micoquian 40/36 Charentian Chatelperronian 38/33 Uluzzian Levalloiso- Mousterian /30 40 Taurus-Zagros 30/28? Late Aterian 40 Levalloiso- Mousterian? 48/47 Late Levantine Mousterian Lower Nile Valley Complex 50/45?

40 Conclusions of Research at Ortvale Klde MP UP transition occurred ka, during a period of global climatic decline not well expressed in the region. NO temporal evidence for sympatry. Interactions occurred to the south or too brief to be detected. Continuity in hunting practices & the acquisition & exploitation of biogeographic information. Real but insignificant rifts in lithic technology due to cultural preference not adaptive function. Dramatic rifts in land use & mobility, and group & social network size. EUP penetration of Caucasus Mountains and cultural continuity in north & south.

41 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS O. Bar-Yosef: Harvard University G. Bar-Oz: University of Haifa A. Belfer-Cohen: Hebrew University D. Lordkipanidze: Georgian State Museum N. Tushabramishvili: Georgian State Museum A. Vekua: Georgian State Museum FUNDING L. S. B. Leakey Foundation Wenner-Gren Foundation (Grants 6881 & 7059) American School for Prehistoric Research Mellon Foundation Davis Center for Russian Studies